FAQ

A smart card is a credit card-shaped device that has an embedded integrated circuit, either a secure microcontroller or a memory chip, designed to securely store and process data. Like a small, portable computer, it enables a wide range of applications, including payment, identification, and access control, by performing tasks such as data processing, encryption, and authentication.

There are four main types of smart cards that contain microprocessors (or microcontrollers):

1. Contact: These require direct physical contact with a reader. They comply with ISO/IEC 7816 standard and are commonly used for credit/debit cards, SIM cards and ID cards.
2. Contactless: These communicate via radio frequency (RF) without physical contact. They comply with ISO/IEC 14443 or ISO/IEC 15693 and are widely used in transit systems, access control and e-passports.
3. Dual-Interface: These combine both contact and contactless interfaces in one card and are used in multi-application deployments such as national ID or EMV banking cards.
4. Hybrid: These have two separate chips, one for contact and the other for contactless. Each chip functions independently, unlike dual-interface cards.  

There are many use-cases for smart cards including:

• Banking/Payment – EMV smart cards for secure financial transactions.
• ID – For government-issued IDs, driver’s licenses, or employee badges.
• Access Control – Used for physical or logical access to buildings/systems.
• Healthcare – Store patient data or insurance information.
• Transit – Prepaid cards used in public transportation systems.

EMV (Europay, Mastercard, and Visa) is a global standard for secure payment transactions that relies on an embedded chip to generate a unique, encrypted code for each purchase. This technology has largely replaced the less secure magnetic stripe system, enhancing protection against fraud in card-present transactions by making it much more difficult to clone card data.

There are over 14 billion EMV cards in use globally (EMVCo) across 80+ countries.

MULTOS is a highly secure smart card operating system platform designed to run multiple applications on a single smart card or secure device. It’s widely used in industries where security, flexibility, and multi-application functionality are essential such as banking, government ID programs, and secure authentication.

There are more than 2.5 billion MULTOS devices issued to date.

MULTOS is considered one of the most secure smart card operating systems available. Its security advantages over other chip technologies come from both its technical design and certification processes.  Find out more information here.

MULTOS chips are specialized secure microcontrollers distributed via licensed manufacturers, card bureaus and trusted smart card vendors. Contact us for further information.

IoT (Internet of Things) refers to a network of physical “things” embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies that enable them to connect to the internet and exchange data with other devices and systems.

IoT makes everyday objects “smart” by allowing them to communicate, collect, and share data, often without human intervention.

There are many use-cases for IoT devices. Examples include:

• Smart home devices: thermostats, smart lights, door locks/bells, appliances
• Wearables: fitness trackers, smartwatches, rings
• Connected vehicles: cars that send maintenance data or provide real-time navigation
• Industrial IoT (IIoT): sensors on factory equipment to monitor performance
• Healthcare IoT: remote patient monitoring devices
• Smart cities: traffic sensors, smart street lighting, waste management systems